I am a lifelong writer with an M.F.A. in Creative Non-Fiction and two years professional blogging experience. I have a proven ability to produce publication-ready research and copy. I can write on a broad range of topics, including politics, science, sports, film, theater and profiles. My specialties are bright, unexpected descriptions and pulling stories from data. I am currently working with an editor to polish my novel.

Work Info

Expertise

Editor

1 Year

Researcher

2 Years

Writer

2 Years

Specialty

Science

1 Year

Sports & Recreation

1 Year

Politics

3 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

4 Years

Media Client List (# assignments
last 2 yrs)

Carbonated.tv (11+), MapLight (11+)

Other Work History

I have written product descriptions for artists, taught writing to high schoolers and English as a second language. I worked at MapLight for two years (ending Nov 2011) as a blogger and researcher.

Computer Skills

Proficient with Mac and PC, Word, Excel

Technical Skills

Template-based web design

Equipment

Laptop, camera, iPad, audio recorder

Foreign Language Skills

Some Spanish

References

Jeffrey Friedman, Research Director at MapLight: jeff@maplight.org.Sarah Pollock, English and Journalism Professor at Mills College, former Senior Editor of Mother Jones: pollock@mills.edu.Paul Nowak, Founder and CEO of Iris Reading: pnowak@irisreading.com

Awards

Finalist for the Ardella Mills Prize for excellence in writing.

Freelancer Availability

I occasionally freelance. I live near San Francisco, CA. I am willing to travel anywhere. I have a driver's license. I have access to a car.

An examination of campaign contributions from pro-choice groups to Republicans who voted to continue funding Planned Parenthood. They were among the top recipients of pro-choice money in the House of Representatives, and especially among Republicans.

A contrast of the energy-related budget proposals of President Obama and Senator Rand Paul, alongside a comparison of how much money energy-related industries donated in the most recent election cycle to Democrats and Republicans.

An examination of the top contributors to 2010's Prop 26 in California, which aimed to make certain fees harder to pass in the legislature. I found (and illustrated) that 86% of the funding came from four aggregating sources.

An article on how, after the headlines had subsided on the passage of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, most of the actual writing of the law was still to be done, and lobbyists were getting in on the action. A chart below the text shows a spike in lobbying efforts by major banks.

A report building off of a major project of the Washington Post on firms receiving intelligence-related contracts. I examined campaign contributions from the firms receiving the most contracts, and found that they have supported legislators who voted to continue the war in Afghanistan.

An analysis of the bills offered in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, with campaign contributions from oil companies serving as the critical variable. Scroll down for the all-too-illuminating charts.

A follow-up on a report by the Sacramento Bee about California legislators taking a lobbyist-funded trip to Hawaii. I showed how much money legislators on the trip got from industries known to be involved.

An email to Newt Gingrich's supporters days before the 2012 election made headlines for saying that Obama will win. But when I investigated further, the email, who wrote it, and why turned out to be much stranger.